第26部分(第2/7 页)

efer　to　conquer　or　perish。〃

〃I　have　heard　Liu　Bei　is　one　of　the　heroes　in　the　world。　If　we　could　get　his　help；　there　would　be　no　doubt　of　the　result。　But　there　is　no　one　to　send。〃

〃I　will　go　as　soon　as　I　have　received　your　letter。〃

So　Kong　Rong　wrote　letters　and　gave　them　to　his　helper。

Taishi　Ci　put　on　his　armor；　mounted　his　steed；　attached　his　bow　and　quiver　to　his　girdle；　took　his　spear　in　his　hand；　tied　his　packed　haversack　firmly　to　his　saddle　bow；　and　rode　out　at　the　city　gate。　He　went　quite　alone。

Along　the　moat　a　large　party　of　the　besiegers　were　gathered；　and　they　came　to　intercept　the　solitary　rider。　But　Taishi　Ci　dashed　in　among　them　and　cut　down　several　and　so　finally　fought　his　way　through。

Guan　Hai；　hearing　that　a　rider　had　left　the　city；　guessed　what　his　errand　would　be　and　followed　Taishi　Ci　with　a　party　of　horsemen。　Guan　Hai　spread　them　out　so　that　the　messenger　rider　was　entirely　surrounded。　Then　Taishi　Ci　laid　aside　his　spear；　took　his　bow；　adjusted　his　arrows　one　by　one　and　shot　all　round　him。　And　as　a　rider　fell　from　his　steed　with　every　twang　of　Taishi　Ci's　bowstring；　the　pursuers　dared　not　close　in。

Thus　he　got　clear　away　and　rode　in　hot　haste　to　Liu　Bei。　Taishi　Ci　reached　Pingyuan；　and　after　greeting　his　host　in　proper　form　he　told　how　Kong　Rong　was　surrounded　and　had　sent　him　for　help。　Then　he　presented　the　letter　which　Liu　Bei　read。

〃And　who　are　you？〃　asked　Liu　Bei。

〃I　am　Taishi　Ci；　a　fellow　from　Laihuang。　I　am　not　related　by　ties　of　kin　to　Kong　Rong；　nor　even　by　ties　of　neighborhood；　but　I　am　by　the　bonds　of　sentiment　and　I　share　his　sorrows　and　misfortunes。　The　Yellow　Scarves　have　invested　his　city；　and　he　is　distressed　with　none　to　turn　to；　and　destruction　is　very　near。　You　are　k